Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
A dog that helped soldiers in Afghanistan returns to the U.S. and is adopted by his handler's family after suffering a traumatic experience.
Max is a competent but formulaic family adventure that follows well-worn beats of grief, loyalty, and redemption through a dog's perspective. The plot hits predictable marks—troubled youth, loyal dog, antagonist with contraband—without much surprise. Acting is serviceable but unremarkable, with the canine lead outshining the human cast. Cinematography is decent for the genre, capturing outdoor settings reasonably well. The ending provides expected emotional closure without subverting expectations. Overall a middle-of-the-road family film that doesn't distinguish itself meaningfully from similar dog-centric dramas.